Variation in lateral shoot elongation patterns and hybrid vigor in full-sib families and interspecific hybrids of larch

Time of shoot initiation and cessation, and rate and duration of lateral shoot elongation of full-sib families of Larix decidua Mill., L. laricina (Du Roi) C. Koch, and interspecific hybrids between L. decidua and L. kaempferi (Lamb.) Carrière, L. kaempferi x decidua, L. laricina x decidua, and L. laricina x kaempferi were explored in relation to hybrid vigor determined by height growth after 5 years. Height growth of L. laricina and L. decidua families was significantly less than height growth of the interspecific hybrids. Differences were observed for all lateral shoot elongation traits among L. laricina, L. decidua, and the interspecific hybrids. Lateral shoots of L. laricina families were the first to both initiate and cease elongation, and grew for the shortest period of time. Overall, the length of the shoot elongation period and date of cessation of shoot growth were significantly correlated with total height growth after 5 years, but the time of shoot initiation was not. Rate of elongation of lateral shoots was strongly correlated with growth increment in 1996, but was weakly correlated with total height growth after 5 years. Hybrid vigor in Larix seems to be partly a function of late cessation or increased duration of shoot elongation, or both.